Process of making bezels



1935- J. R. PUTNAM PROCESS OF MAKING BEZELS Filed Jan. 2, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet l Nov. 12, 1935. J R PUTNAM 2,020,740

PROCESS OF MAKING BEZELS Filed Jan. 2, 1954 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Nov. 12, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE PROCESS OF MAKING BEZELS Conn., a corporation Application January 2, 1934, Serial No. 704,906

4 Claims.

This invention relates to bezels for watches or similar articles, and more particularly to processes of making the same.

One object of this invention is to provide an improved process of making an undercut groove or recess in a bezel.

With the above and other objects in view, this invention includes the improved features, steps and combinations of steps disclosed in the following description, appended claims and accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification.

In the accompanying drawings, in which one way of carrying out the invention is shown for illustrative purposes:

Fig. 1 is a front view of one form of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a rear view of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view on line 33 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view on line 4-4 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a rear view of the first blank produced in the process of manufacturing the bezel;

Fig. 6 is a sectional view on line 66 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a. rear view at an intermediate stage of manufacture, after the blank of Fig. 5 has been subjected to a die-forming operation;

Fig. 8 is a front view of the blank shown in Fig. '7;

Fig. 9 is a sectional view on line 9-9 of Fig. 7;

Fig. 10 is a rear view at a further stage of manufacture, after the partly-formed blank of Fig. 7 has been subjected to a further die-forming operation;

Fig. 11 is a front view of the blank shown in Fig. 10;

Fig. 12 is an enlarged sectional view on line l2-l2 of Fig. 11;

Fig. 13 is an enlarged sectional view similar to Fig. 12, but with the retaining-wall pressed down to form an undercut crystal-retaining groove;

Fig. 14 is a rear view similar to Fig. 10, but after the outer contour has been trimmed to shape and before the center has been punched out to form the inner opening to the final shape shown in Fig. 2; and

Fig. 15 is an enlarged, broken, cross-sectional view similar to Fig. 3, illustrating my improved process applied in forming an undercut'recess to provide a. snap-on edge at the rear of the bezel.

In accordance with one way of making a bezel in accordance with this invention, a strip of metal (for example, half-hard brass, which may have a thickness of .125 inch) is first fed along to a punch which punches out the hole in the blank 2|, whereupon the strip of metal (not shown) is fed along to a locating-plug (not shown) which fits within the punched-out opening 20, whereupon the first-mentioned punch punches a second hole, similar to the hole 20 in the strip of metal, at the same time that a second punch (not shown) at the locating-plug station punches 5 out the blank 2|, all in accordance with a mode of manufacture that is well understood in the art.

The blank 2| is next subjected to the action of a pair of swaging or coining dies which, while 10 retaining the opening 20 at the same size as in the original blank, expand or enlarge the outer part of the blank as indicated in Figs. 7 and 8 to form a second blank 22 with an annular recess 23 in the rear of the blank, and with a raised portion 24 15 on the front of the blank.

The blank 22 is first preferably annealed and then subjected to another pair of swaging or coining dies which form the blank 25, which has a deepened annular recess at 23, an inwardly-ex- 20 tending flash 26, an outside bordering flash 21, and a raised fin 23 along the upper portion of the retaining-wall 29, with the retaining-wall of nonundercut form, so that after it is formed by one of the die-members which fits therein, the die- 25 member may be readily withdrawn or removed. Without further annealing, the blank 25 is then subjected to a pressing or forging operation to forge or press or crush down the raised fin 28 and cause the metal to flow to the position shown 3 at 30 to produce the undercut retaining-wall 3| forming part of the undercut crystal-retaining groove 32.

The blank 33 is next subjected to a trimming operation to form a, blank 34 with its outer con- 35 tour 35 of final size and shape.

Next, the blank 34 is subjected to a piercing or punching operation to remove the inner flash 26 to produce the finished bezel shown in Figs. 1 to 4.

Bezels made in accordance with this invention, such as illustrated in Figs. 1 to 4, permit of the annular recess 23 being readily secured by a snap-on fit or otherwise to a circular or annular case-member, while at the same time the front 36 of the bezel produces an attractive non-circular elongated form.

It will be observed that the maximum distance between the opposite curved edge-portions 3'! and 38 of the bezel is only a little greater than the diameter of the annular recess 23. It will also be observed that the distance between the opposite straight edge-portions 39 and 40 is substantially greater than the distance between the curved portions 31 and 38, thus aiding in the 55 elongated non-circular effect produced upon the eye. It will also be observed that the radius of curvature of the opposite curved edges 4| and 42 is greater than the radius of curvature of the curved portions 3'! and 38, thus tending to produce a flattening-down or elongating effect upon the eye of the observer, which further aids in producing an attractive elongated-appearing bezel. The substantially-straight opposite edges 39 and 40 aid in the formation of the four cornerportions which further aid in producing a marked elongated effect upon the eye of the observer. While my improved process of forming a crystalretaining groove or recess has been illustrated in connection with forming such a recess of noncircular form, it will be appreciated that the process may also be applied to such a recess of circular form.

Fig. 15 illustrates my improved process as applied in forming an undercut recess 44, whether annular or non-annular, to provide a snap-on edge or ridge 45 extending around the face of the bezel. The dotted-line form 46 illustrates the position of the metal before it is made to move by flow or distortion to the form indicated at 45 by a process similar to my previously-described process of forming the crystal-retaining groove or recess in the bezel.

The invention may be carried out in other specific ways than that herein set forth without departing from the spirit and essential characteristics of the invention, and the present embodiment is, therefore, to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, and all changes coming within the meaning and equivalency range of the appended claims are intended to be embraced therein.

I claim:

1. The process of making a bezel having an undercut groove including: die-forming a bezel with a retaining-wall having a non-undercut inner surface and an outer surface making an acute angle with the upper portion of said inner surface; said acute-angled outer surface at its lower end meeting a reinforcing wall-portion forming an integral part of said retaining-wall and located outside and beyond the imaginary surface formed by the projection of said acute-angled outer surface; and then subjecting the upper acute-angled portion of said retaining-wall to a forging operation acting to forge or crush down the metal thereof into the lower portion of said retaining-wall and form an undercut groove.

2. The process of making a bezel having an undercut crystal-retaining groove including: dieforming a bezel with a retaining-wall having a. 5

non-undercut inner surface and an outer surface making an acute angle with the upper portion of said inner surface; said acute-angled outer surface at its lower end meeting a reinforcing wall-portion forming an integral part of said retaining-wall and located outside and beyond the imaginary surface formed by the projection of said acute-angled outer surface; and then subjecting the upper acute-angled portion of said retaining-wall to a forging operation acting to forge or crush down the metal thereof into the lower portion of said retaining-wall and form an undercut groove.

3. The process of making a bezel having an undercut non-circular crystal-retaining groove including: die-forming a bezel with a retainingwall having a non-undercut inner surface and an outer surface making an acute angle with the upper portion of said inner surface; said acuteangled outer surface at its lower end meeting 2 a reinforcing wall-portion forming an integral part of said retaining-wall and located outside and beyond the imaginary surface formed by the projection of said acute-angled outer surface; and then subjecting the upper acute-angled portion of said retaining-wall to a forging operation acting to forge or crush down the metal thereof into the lower portion of said retaining-wall and form an undercut groove.

4. The process of making a bezel having an undercut snap-on edge including: die-forming a bezel with a retaining-wall having a non-undercut inner surface and an outer surface making an acute angle with the upper portion of said inner surface; said acute-angled outer surface at its lower end meeting a reinforcing wall-portion forming an integral part of said retaining-wall and located outside and beyond the imaginary surface formed by the projection of said acuteangled outer surface; and then subjecting the 4 upper acute-angled portion of said retaining-wall to a forging operation acting to forge or crush down the metal thereof into the lower portion of said retaining-wall and form an undercut groove.

JAMES R. PUTNAM. 

